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Joan Meyer chairs the North America Compliance and Investigations Steering Committee. She has handled investigations and resolutions with enforcement authorities involving anti-corruption, government contracting and the false claims act and financial fraud for companies. Prior to joining the Firm, she was senior counsel to the Deputy Attorney General at the US Department of Justice, where she advised on corporate charging policies, corporate monitorships, and complex criminal litigation and corporate settlements. She also managed the operation of the President’s Corporate Fraud Task Force. Ms. Meyer was the First Assistant United States Attorney and Criminal Chief of the United States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Michigan.

While working as a federal prosecutor, she was a recipient of two national awards for her successful prosecutions. Ms. Meyer also spent a number of years as a senior trial attorney at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in Washington, DC where she filed injunctive actions in federal court and administrative actions against brokerage firms and brokers for a variety of solicitation and trading frauds connected to the commodities futures markets. She started her career as a criminal prosecutor in Chicago. Ms. Meyer has tried cases and argued numerous appeals in state and federal courts. As a part of Baker’s white collar defense practice, she has handled investigations and resolutions with enforcement authorities involving anti-corruption, government contracting and the false claims act and financial fraud for companies.

Practice Focus

Ms. Meyer counsels on best practices for compliance with US and international legal requirements and regulations, and advises senior management and corporate audit committees on the formulation, conduct, and consequences of enforcement inquiries, including the development of appropriate defenses, disclosures, disciplinary actions and compliance policies. Ms. Meyer also co-chairs the Firm’s US-Mexico Cross-Border Initiative which sponsors a cross-border team of compliance specialists who advise and conduct internal investigations for international companies doing business in Latin America. She has advised and worked with companies in the manufacturing, life sciences, mining and extraction, financial services, transportation and logistics sectors to conduct global risk assessments, develop and implement compliance programs, create remediation plans and develop emergency/crisis management strategies.

Representative Legal Matters

Led a large-scale internal investigation and negotiated a resolution with federal enforcement authorities alleging financial fraud by a mortgage industry company in connection with the electronic processing and document execution for loans in foreclosure.

Managed a global anti-corruption investigation for a Fortune 100 manufacturing company involving activities of its agents and distributors.

Represented a domestic financial institution and conducted an internal investigation involving ethical and internal policy violations by one of its business units.

Advised in an internal investigation and enforcement resolution in connection with allegations of corruption by a freight forwarding company.

Acted in a large-scale global internal investigation involving systemic breaches of the US FCPA in Latin America by a global food services company.

Advised in a global anti-corruption internal investigation and related enforcement action for a manufacturer in Latin America.

Retained by a technology company to conduct an expedited internal investigation and negotiation with the government to respond to allegations of false claims to the US government involving purportedly defective components.

Advised a multinational life sciences company in due diligence, including extensive pre- and post-acquisition plans, for targets in the Asia Pacific.

Admission

District of Columbia~United States (2015)U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit~United States (2009)Michigan~United States (1995)U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit~United States (1986)U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois~United States (1986)Illinois~United States (1985)

Education

Baker & McKenzie LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership organized under the laws of the State of Illinois (USA) and is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Verein organized under the laws of Switzerland.

Every day our more than 4,000 lawyers, economists, tax advisors and other professionals share insights and best practices across borders and practices. We speak more than 75 languages and represent more than 55 nationalities, and the close relationships among our people fosters the trust needed to develop and deliver world-class solutions to multinational clients.

We share an uncompromising commitment to excellence, which explains why more of our lawyers are included as leading lawyers in the Chambers Global Guide to the World’s Best Lawyers than any other Global 20 law firm.

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We started with a vision of going global and were in eight countries before our 10th anniversary. Today we have 77 offices in 47 countries -- including the emerging markets so important to the growth of your business.